She moved along at a snail’s pace in crowded areas to avoid suspicion, but quickly shifted through dark alleys, gaining ground on her objective.
Vala passed by several linkers on her way. One group of four addicts were hooked together via virtual reality visors while leaning against an abandoned building. Another group of young people were taking hologram selfies with them, laughing at their demise.
She glared straight ahead, ignoring them. As she got closer, a young, stocky male took notice of Vala. “Hey, let’s get a hologram with this old hag!” he shouted.
The man bounced over toward her, laughing. He started to put his arm around her, but when he did, she blasted him in the chest with the palm of her hand. The impact hurled him through the air and sent him tumbling end over end into a pile of trash.
The teens stopped laughing, staring motionless at Vala.
“Don’t,” she warned, stabbing her finger at the teens. They didn’t say a word, backing away from the linkers as they scurried off into the streets.
She fled the scene, eventually approaching a dark, dingy pier on the Han River. A modest, unsuspecting fishing boat provided by her contractor awaited. Now, it was time for delivery.
***
Vala docked the boat at a pier deep in the North Korean wilderness. There was a dense mist smothering the morning sunlight. At the base of the pier stood two men, appearing as silhouettes. She moored the boat and slid around the back of the cabin while checking her submachine gun.
She tucked the Star Rust inside her coat and exited the boat, stomping toward the figures confidently. As she approached, she noticed the man out in front was of Asian descent, probably Korean, and the man slightly behind him was Caucasian. Both wore suits.
“You got it?” the Korean man asked.
“Maybe.”
“Well, I hope you didn’t come up here for nothing.” He flashed a smile full of steel teeth.
“Right.”
“So you don’t want money, you want information?” he asked.
“Yes, I’ve made that clear, and supposedly your people can do this?”
“We find people that have the right tools for any job. People like yourself, for instance. People with information just require different sets of tools,” he replied, sizing her up and down.
“Okay, so um, have you found Michael?” Vala asked.
“No, we haven’t even started looking. You hand over the Star Rust, and we’ll get you in contact with the right people.” He spun around and huddled with his assistant.
Vala knew it was a risk, but she didn’t have any better leads. She handed over the Star Rust.
“We’ll be in touch, Cilan.” He said.
In her mind, she had to believe Michael was out there somewhere.
And she was right.
Chapter Four
A middle-aged doctor shuffled down the hallway to welcome her new patient. Her glasses allowed her to see through special wall panels for each room, viewing each patient’s vitals in an instant. A hologram of the doctor appeared in front of Michael.
“Hello, Michael. I’m your new physician, Doctor Haney. I’ll be right down.” The hologram flickered just before it disappeared.
“Okay. I’m not going anywhere,” Michael mumbled.
This facility wasn’t new; it had just been updated to accommodate modern technologies. From the outside, it had that early 2040’s architectural feel. The style in that era was often overdone and exaggerated, and this one had too many angular lines for Michael’s taste.
From a distance, it reminded him of an evolved version of a Roman cathedral. Designers wanted their signature mark on the most basic purpose structures, even if it looked horrid.
“Seem familiar? We’re getting an unseasonably high amount of snow,” the doctor said while entering the room. Michael was groggy, barely even acknowledging the doc’s question.
“Welcome to Maine, Michael. I’m sure you’ll be used to the snow and cold, being from Alaska.” She smiled, gently cupping her hand along the contour of his partially deformed face. She glared down to where Michael’s legs used to be.
“You’ll be just fine,” she whispered in a soothing tone. Michael detected her motherly attempt to comfort him.
“Dr. Haney, he’s under contract, special orders from SolarSystems Corporation, he won’t be staying long,” the nurse whispered. The doctor quickly pulled her hand away as if it was next to an open flame.
“Oh. I heard a bit about him, but his chart is extremely vague. This is the one the Special Forces team found alive in that North Korean prison?” the doctor asked.
“Yeah, he was mumbling about it in his sleep. He and his cellmate had been mauled by some wild animal apparently. They just left his cellmate’s corpse with him after he died.”
“Oh my.”
As Michael pried his eyes open, he noticed the nurse’s hair as she scurried about. It reminded him of Vala’s natural blonde color. He became intoxicated by the thought of her. He remembered the way her thick hair used to fall in front of her face when he pushed it behind her ears. The way her dimples only came out of hiding when she gave him a full smile.
“Well, hey there,” the young nurse caught him looking at her. He quickly raised his eyebrows.
“Oh, no. Sorry. Something about you reminded me of um, someone,” Michael said.
The nurse looked toward the floor and paused. “Oh? What was her name?” she said with a curious smile.
Michael turned his head away and answered softly. “Vala. Her name is Vala.”
***
The next morning, Michael heard the heavy tap of army dress shoes approaching out in the hall. They had a certain sound that was recognizable, usually the stride exuded a confidence that only the most alpha Army guys had. He’d worn them a few times himself, but not as much as combat boots.
A serious-looking gentleman made his entrance into Michael’s room in full US Army dress uniform, clutching his cap in his left arm. He was a husky man with a clean shave.
“Staff Sergeant Keller?” The man coughed. Michael noticed he was a staff sergeant as well, US Army.
“Hey…wait… Butch?” Michael whooped.
“Ha-ha! Took you a second without the beard, huh?” He grinned and tossed his big arms around Michael as he sat up in bed.
“Shit man, good to see you! You’ve gained weight? What are you, about two-sixty now?” Michael observed.
“Come on man, maybe two fifty. I don’t know, gah, wow, good to see you too, brother! Been awhile.” Butch said, patting Michael on the shoulder.
“How’s Eve?” Michael asked.
“No idea honestly. I had to give my drone up when I got out.” Butch replied.
“Oh. I thought you were still in?” Michael asked.
“No, I, uh, today I wore my uniform just to come see ya.” Butch said.
“You didn’t have to do all that.” Michael said.
“Well…I wanted to. So, did they give you any cool hologram modules since you’re lying around? I remember my uncle had this one when he was in the hospital. His was just sitting on a beach, they’d put a fan on him to simulate the breeze, seem to calm him—”
“Nope. I don’t do holograms if I can help it. Bad experience.” Michael interrupted.
“Yeah… yeah. Kinda makes me nauseated actually.” Butch said, nodding his head slowly. Michael looked away. “Heard from any of the guys?”
“Not since I got out, after that last mission everyone sort of did their own thing, they put a lot of the guys into other units.” Butch replied.
“Right, understandable. I’m sure you went to Daniel’s funeral?” Michael raised his eyebrows. Butch sat down on the edge of the bed and turned his profile to Michael.
“Yep. Yours too.” Butch dropped his head, stroking the top of his cap with his hand.
“How’d she look?” Michael asked, leaning to see Butch’s reaction. He turned, staring intensely at Michael.
“Come on Mike. You know…” Butch said
softly. His eyes watered up a bit as he looked away.
“…D-Did they at least let her sit up front, at the casket? We weren’t married yet, so I worried about that.” Michael asked as a tear rolled down his face. He clinched the bed sheets tightly.
“T-The row right behind that.” Butch replied.
“Damn, well, not so bad I guess.” Michael said.
“Yeah.”
“Wait. How did you find out, you know, that I was—”
“Alive?” Butch interrupted.
“Yeah. She doesn’t know, right? Everything’s so hush hush.” Michael asked intensely.
“Nope. Just me. Listen, Mike. Right after I got out, I applied to several different places. SolarSystems came calling.” Butch said.
“Hmm. That’s how you know. That’s why you came in your uniform, they want you to confirm the contract with me. They wanted a familiar face for the homerun I guess.”
“Yeah. My first day there they told me what you did, then asked me if I would do this. I couldn’t pass it up man.” Butch said grinning. “You don’t know how good it is to see—”
“Oh, but I do! This actually works both ways,” Michael said, pointing at Butch.
“Haha. I suppose so. I had to sign a non-disclosure form, the whole nine. I jumped at the chance to see you again though.” Butch replied.
“They probably thought seeing you would make it easier.” Michael said, shaking his head.
“Not so familiar though.” Butch replied, running his hand across his shave.
“Yeah, now that you’re out of the Army, you’re clean shaven. Makes sense. I stayed on your ass for months,” Michael said, raising an eyebrow.
“Haha.”
“Vala get her check?” Michael asked.
“Not yet. After they get you over there, she’ll get it.” Butch said.
“Butch, man, you have—”
“I got it. Don’t worry about that end of it. I’ll make sure she gets it.” Butch confirmed confidently.
“She needs that for treatment, man. I emailed the doctor’s information to her best friend, her sister, and mother. I told them if anything ever happened to me to see that doctor. I know you understand and I appreciate you looking out.” Michael said.
“No problem. Like I said, I got it.” Butch said. Michael groaned up at the ceiling.
“Whew…good. So any idea what will happen to me? What are they gonna do?” Michael asked.
“No. I don’t know if I would tell you even if I did. I know it’s not in my department though, it’s some ultra-secret division, hush hush shit.”
“Of course. Probably better if I don’t know either.” Michael said, raising his eyebrows. He noticed his hand shaking under the sheet. He quickly tucked it under his side to conceal it.
“Well, congrats on the job, Butch. Are they paying you good? You look well-fed of course,” Michael grinned.
“Funny. Yeah about three times what I made as a Ranger, but with none of the risk other than the commute to work every morning,” Butch said.
“What do they have you doing?” Michael asked.
“Desk jockey. I’m one of the liaisons for the Army, we’re going after a few of their contracts, replacing post soldiers with drones. They do simple shit, standing guard for now.”
“Hmm. I hope they’re better than the drones we went up against in Korea.” Michael replied.
“Those weren’t bad actually, we were just good at taking them out.” Butch said.
“If you say so… man I’m happy for you. Seems like a good gig. I think it’ll work out fine.” Michael said.
“Thanks. Listen, Mike… uhh. I don’t, I really thought about all this before I came down here. Mike. I-I know who you are, as a man, I know how you think, putting others before yourself, many of them you didn’t even know…I respect that, the guys respected that. I just wish that you valued yourself more, but really, I guess that’s what makes you different. Much of it for me personally is selfishness. I don’t want you to go away. I even tried to put myself in your shoes in this situation, and frankly, I’m not sure what I would do. I just—”
“Wait. You mean to tell me… if Eve needed a lifesaving procedure, you wouldn’t risk your own skin? Unbelievable.” Mike joked. Butch threw his hands up, smiling. “Guilty as charged. I like her and all, but she’s not much of a cuddler, you know with blades on her hands and all? I like my smooth skin.”
“Haha-ha…shit. Butch. I know…I just…Deep down for me maybe it’s selfishness, too. Maybe I can’t bear to see her in so much pain, maybe I don’t want to see it, spiraling downhill. I just can’t even begin to imagine that. Even then, what can I do? I can barely move myself. I can’t even take care of her. Maybe this is my way of dealing with it. It’s comforting to know she has another shot at life, and who knows, maybe she’ll love again? That’s what I keep telling myself anyway,” Michael said. Butch tilted his head and cocked an eyebrow.
“No talking you out of it?” Butch grinned.
“I thought you liked your new job?” Michael asked.
“I’m here for you, not them, especially when it comes to this,” Butch said. Michael dropped his head, staring up at Butch.
“I figured as much. I’ve never seen you go back on what you want to do, but I thought I’d try. Well… let’s see… here you go, sign and date this tablet, here and… here and you’ll be off in no time,” Butch said, gesturing at the tablet.
Michael signed without hesitation, handing it back to Butch. He stood up nodding his head, tugging his uniform down. “Always hated wearing these things.”
“Bring it in one last time, you big ol’ bear.” Michael said. Butch gave him a hug. “I’ll never forget who you are Mike…what you’re doing for her now, and what you did for us out there. It’s funny, you know when we got back, one of the guys, Mark? New guy, remember? Never said much?” Butch asked.
“Of course I remember. Short red head,” Mike smiled.
“Yeah. Well his wife’s pregnant.” Butch said.
“That’s…great! Wow. Well—”
“It’s a boy. Yep. I heard uh, I heard they’re naming it after you,” Butch said, patting Michael on the shoulder.
“Whoa. That’s special. I barely knew the guy.” Michael said. He looked out the window, staring into the white horizon. Butch didn’t say a word, he just let him absorb it for a moment.
“Yeah. Doesn’t take long to figure what you’re about. Okay. Do you, um, do you want me to keep quiet about all this, you know, maybe down the road I could tell Vala what you did here?” Butch asked.
“No. No. It’ll be our secret. Listen. I really appreciate you coming to see me, Butch. It was great having you here,” Michael said, staring at Butch intensely.
“Yeah, man. L-Least I could do.” Butch nodded, his bottom lip quivered a bit as he looked over Michael one last time. Butch turned around slowly and exited the room.
Chapter Five
It had been seventy-two hours since Michael signed the final contract, and just as Butch promised, he was off to SolarSystems.
Waking up in a military helicopter was never a cheerful experience for Michael. In his army unit, if you woke up inside one, it meant you were heading to a bad place or had just left one. This time, he didn’t even know where he was, strapped to a padded stretcher.
“Bravo six, this is Kilo seven. Package ETA in three minutes.” The chopper pilot’s lax voice was slightly muted by the rotor blades. The interior green lights reminded Michael of a war movie. Even though he had seen them plenty of times in real war, now they seemed different and foreign.
“Alright, Michael. Welcome to your new home,” the pilot said over the intercom.
Michael couldn’t see much from his position. A dense fog obscured the large, gray, boxy-looking installation with armed guards all around. The base was military style on the outside, large fortified gates with spotlights on every corner, but it had a corporate feel. Inside the walls it wasn’t just soldiers, but mostly m
en in suits and doctors littered about.
SolarSystems started up after their acquisition of a key piece of alien Star Rust. They found hypersensitive solar receivers over 500 times more effective than those created with human technology.
Their reverse engineering of the materials found at the crash sites allowed them to dominate the stock market almost overnight. They landed huge contracts with Tesla, Ford, Honda, and of course, the Department of Defense.
SolarSystems equipped most of the military’s equipment with this new solar-powered technology, allowing the United States to operate much more efficiently with almost no fuel costs. They aggressively protected the secret of the panel’s technology, propelling the U.S. back into the superpower chair for a time.
Much of their mission was to sabotage competitors who were making progress in the field of solar technology. Profits did slump after this initial surge, so SolarSystems shifted their focus to experimental weapons prototyping.
As the chopper lowered, Michael could see a small group of medical staff waiting just outside the landing pad. They had their arms crossed low around their waistlines. They were a serious looking bunch. Their white coats flapped in the wind as the rotors swirled up dust at them.
After the chopper landed, a doctor in her late fifties entered. She was smirking and holding a syringe. Her hair was dyed dark and pulled back in a tight bun. She was pale and had a long face with chiseled features. She wore a long, light-blue lab coat with the SolarSystems insignia on it—a dark red sun with blue lettering through the middle.
“Hello, Michael. Welcome to SolarSystems,” the doctor said. Her voice seemed as sterile and uninviting as the building itself as she navigated through the chopper toward him. He could smell her strong floral perfume before she closed the distance between them. The pilot coughed as she walked by.
She picked her way around the various cargo before getting within striking distance. Michael felt an overpowering sense of anxiety. He had no idea what would happen to him or if he’d ever wake up. He kept thinking about Vala and how much she needed him to do this. She’d never know what he went through, but it was all worth it.
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